A small, black box developed in a McMaster University lab has the potential to change the way scientists search for new antibiotics.

McMaster researchers in the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research used a 3-D printer to create the Printed Fluorescence Imaging Box (PFIbox), which is capable of collecting massive amounts of data that will help them in their quest to discover new antibiotics. The box allows scientists to analyze more than 6,000 samples of bacteria at a time.

The tool uses LED lights to excite fluorescent proteins found in bacteria. It then wirelessly sends data to researchers studying how cells respond to antibiotics over time.

The PFIbox’s nine structural parts can be 3-D printed in about a day, snap together in minutes, and cost about $200.

“3-D printing is allowing us to create tools and instrumentation that simply don’t exist yet. Here, we have designed and built an absolutely cutting-edge lab instrument for about $200. It’s simply game-changing for our work to discover new antibiotics.”

Eric Brown

McMaster researcher in infectious disease

McMaster's Printed Fluorescence Imaging Box

The Printed Fluorescence Imaging Box (PFIbox) is capable of collecting massive amounts of data that will help them in their quest to discover new antibiotics.